The DARE (Discovery, Applied Research, Entrepreneurship) District has won an Ontario Mass Timber Award.

The honour was received Tuesday night in Vaughan, Ont. as Ontario Wood WORKS! celebrated excellence in wood design with its annual awards.

The 18th annual wood awards pay tribute to individuals and organizations for innovative wood design.

In accepting the award, Todd Schonewille, director of Physical Resources, said the honour was representative of "a great team that worked diligently together to deliver this strategic and inspiring project."

Wood is central to DARE's dynamic design.  The walls of the first-floor Indigenous Commons are decorated with Indigenous-themed wood panelling and designs – honouring Algonquin’s commitment to making Indigenous traditions an integral part of its institutional fabric. The undulating design of the library roof and the interior wood decking with its curving blond beams is intended to echo the flow of the Ottawa River and the Gatineau Hills.

"The new Library is a dream come true for the College, which has been wanting a new facility for many years to meet critical student needs," Schonewille noted.

The DARE District's award was summarized by the Daily Commercial News:
 

DARE (Discovery, Applied Research, Entrepreneurship) District
Algonquin College, Ottawa
Ontario Mass Timber Award

Architects: Diamond Schmitt Architects; Edward J. Cuhaci and Associates Architects. Structural engineer: Adjeleian Allen Rubeli Ltd.

The building is comprised of four distinct but integrated program spaces. As part of the project, a new double-height third floor with a vaulted mass timber roof was added to a former two-storey library building. Nail-laminated timber was used on the curved roof.
 

Wood WORKS! is a national initiative to increase the use of wood in commercial, industrial and institutional construction. The Canadian Wood Council leads this program with funding support from the wood industry, the federal government and provincial governments across Canada.